Shutoff device for wells

ABSTRACT

A device for shutting-off well drilling and pipe strings and the like has a pair of opposed frame members arranged with a string between them and displaceable with respect to one another. Two pairs of jaws are mounted on the frame members for guidingly engaging the string when the frame members are displaced toward one another. Each frame member is provided with a fluid motor having an I-beam mounted on the piston thereof and arranged for movement with respect to the I-beam of the opposed frame member. These I-beams move relatively to the respective frame member for flattening a portion of the string to shut off same. Locking devices are provided on the frame members for locking themselves together after displacement toward one another, thus preventing the frame members from moving away from one another while the string is being flattened by the fluid motors and I-beams.

United States Patent [191 Mace [ Feb. 5, 1974 SHUTOFF DEVICE FOR WELLS[76] Inventor: Orville F. Mace, Rt. 3, Afton, Okla.

[22] Filed: Apr. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 245,955

[52] US. Cl. 72/407, 166/55 [51] Int. Cl B21d 22/04 [58] Field of Search72/407, 416, 295, 367; 166/55, 166/298 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,949,672 3/1934 Barrier 166/55 3,266,287 8/1966 Gill r72/416 3,455,140 7/1969 Galan et a1; 72/416 1,875,673 9/1932 Stockstill166/55 3,221,532 12/1965 Bazata et a1. 72/407 Primary Examiner-CharlesW. Lanham Assistant ExaminerM. J. Keenan Attorney, Agent, orFirmClarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson 57] ABSTRACT A device forshutting-off well drilling and pipe strings and the like has a pair ofopposed frame members arranged with a string between them anddisplaceable with respect to one another. Two pairs of jaws are mountedon the frame members for guidingly engaging the string when the framemembers are displaced toward one another. Each frame member is providedwith a fluid motor having an I-beam mounted on the piston thereof andarranged for movement with respect to the I-beam of the opposed framemember. These l-beams move relatively to the respective frame member forflattening a portion of the string to shut off same. Locking devices areprovided on the frame members for locking themselves together afterdisplacement toward one another, thus preventing the frame members frommoving away from one another while the string is being flattened by thefluid motors and I-beams.

19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 5, 1974 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Patented Feb. 5, 1974 3,789,689

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5 {a SHUTOFF DEVICE FOR WELLS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relatesgenerally to a positive safety shutoff device for gas and oil wells andthe like, and in particular to such a device which can be used to shutoff any well, either on land or water without requiring specialmodification of the well itself. Such a device provides protection inthe event of a blowout or other emergency.

2. Description of the Prior Art Particular in the drilling of oil andgas wells, as well as in wells which are producing, there is the dangerof a blowout, or sudden and violent escape of gas or oil when a highpressure pocket of same is encountered. Numerous devices and techniqueshave been proposed to prevent or control the escape of the gas and oilwhen a blowout occurs. These devices come under the general heading ofblowout preventers.

A method has been set out in US. Pat. No. 3,277,964 for controlling thedischarge of combustible fluids from oil wells and the like. However,this method requires that a plurality of lateral tunnels be providedfrom the ground surface to the borehole. These tunnels requireconsiderable expenditure of materials and effort, and do not provide atechnique which is practical for use on every oil, gas, and like wells.

Another approach to solving the blowout problem has been the use ofcontrol gates, an example of which is shown in US. Pat. No. 2,969,838.This type ofdevice is arranged about a string in the manner of a collar,and has hydraulic rams which shut off the string, and may even shear-offsame. However, this construction involves much precision machine-work inorder that the device may operate properly when needed. Further, thistype of blowout preventer is intended to be inserted into the pressurecontrol assembly of the well, resulting in increased setup cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a positive shutoff device for preventing blowouts in oil, gas,and like wells which is simpler and more reliable in construction thanknown devices of this type, and which is easily transported and set upat a well site.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present inventionby providing a device for shutting-off well drilling and pipe stringsand the like, and which has a pair of opposed frame members arrangedwith a string between them and displaceable with respect to one another.Means are provided on the frame members for guidingly engaging thestring when the frame members are displaced toward one another, andmeans are also provided on the frame members for relative movement withrespect thereto for flattening a portion of the string and shutting offsame.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

the frame members are each formed by a pair of spaced, parallel 'siderails and an end rail connected to the side rails at one end portion ofeach. The other end portion of each side rail extends co-directionallyand toward the side rails of the opposed frame member for matingtherewith. The other end portions of the side rails of one frame memberare tapered toward the opposed side rails, and the other end portions ofthe side rails of the other-frame member are provided with cavity meansfor receiving the tapered end portions. A line may be attached to thetapered end portions and to a pulley arranged in an opening provided inthe other side rails. This line is arranged around the pulley fordisplacing the frame members toward one another.

The frame members are advantageously further provided with means forlocking themselves together after displacement toward one another. Thislocking prevents displacement of the frame members away from one anotherduring the flattening procedure.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking meansincludes latch members arranged in the tapered end portions of the oneside rails, and a means arranged in the other end portions for engagingwith the latch members. The latch members may en gage with the engagingmeans by the force of gravity.

An advantageous feature of the present invention has the relativemovement means including opposed fluid motors, and flattening meansconnected to the fluid motors for moving toward and away from the meansof the opposed fluid motor. This flattening means may be rams in theshape of I-beams having a web attached to the free end of a respectivepiston rod.

The guidingly engaging means preferably has two opposed pairs of jawsmounted on the frame members for movement therewith; opposed pairs ofjaws arranged spaced from opposite sides of the frame members.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showingthe shutoff device according to the present invention arranged about awell string.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a deviceaccording to FIG. 1 in a string-shutoff position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 55of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, detail view, partly in section, showing themanner in which the device according to the present invention shuts offa well string.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularlyto FIG. 1 of the drawings, a device 10 according to the presentinvention for shutting-off well drilling and pipe strings and the likehas a pair of opposed frame members 12, 14

arranged with a string 16 between them and for displacement with respectto one another. Two pairs of opposed jaws 18 are mounted on framemembers l2, 14 for movement therewith, and for guidingly engaging string16 when frame members 12, 14 are displaced toward one another. Opposedpairs of jaws 18 are arranged spacedfrom opposite sides of frame members12, 14. Opposed fluid motors 20 are mounted in frame members 12, 14 forrelative movement with respect thereto, and include cylinder and pistonassemblies. Each cylinder and piston assembly is connected to an I-beam22 arranged for moving toward and away from a similar I-beam 22connected to the opposed fluid motor 20, and guided by guides 24. Whenl-beams 22 move toward one another relative to the respective framemember 12, 14, a portion of string 16 is flattened (FIG. 7) and shutoff. I-beams 22 are connected by webs 26 (FIG. 7) to the free end of arespective piston rod 28. Rods 30, which may be, for example, sparkproofbronze bar stock, are mounted on the flanges of I-beams 22 for guidinglyengaging guides 24.

Each frame member 12, 14 is formed by a pair of spaced, parallel siderails 32, 34, respectively, and an end rail 36, 38, respectively,connected to side rails 32, 34 at one end portion 40, 42 of each. Theother end portions of each side rail 32, 34 extend co-directionally andtoward side rails 34, 32 of the opposed frame member for matingtherewith.

Other end portions 44 of side rails 32 are tapered toward the opposedside rails 34, and the other end portions of side rails 34 are providedwith cavities 46 (FIG. 4) for receiving tapered end portions 44. Lines48 (FIG. may be attached to tapered end portions 44, as by conventionall-bolts 50. Pulleys 52 are arranged for rotation on stub shafts 54 inopenings 56 provided in side rails 34. Lines 48 are then arranged aroundpulleys 52 for displacing frame members 32, 34 toward one another byexerting a force in any suitable, known manner on the ends of lines 48.The force applied to lines 48 may be supplied either manually or by somemachine.

Frame member 12, is further provided with latch members 58 pivotallyarranged on pins 60 mounted in tapered end portions 44 of side rails 32.Slots 62 are also provided in tapered end portions 44, and are arrangedfor the projecting free end of latch members 58 to pass therethrough.Slots 64 are arranged in the other end portions of side rails 34, thosedefining cavities 46, for engaging with latch member 58 and lockingframe members l2, 14 together after their displacement toward oneanother. This locking prevents displacement of frame members 12, 14 awayfrom one another during the flattening procedure. As can be understoodfrom FIG. 6 of the drawings, latch member 58 will engage with slot 64 bythe force of gravity.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, each frame member 12,14 is provided with a pair of tubular supporting frames 66 which may beattached thereto in a suitable, known manner, such as by welding. A skid68 is attached in a similar manner to a respective supporting frame 66.Skids 68 are provided to permit frame members 12, 14 to be displacedover a surface on which device is placed. As shown in the drawings, thissurface may be a platform 70 provided with an opening 72 for permittingstring 16 to pass therethrough. Alternatively, skid 68 may be placeddirectly on the earth surface (not shown) surrounding the casing head(not shown) of the well. This arrangement would place it beneath thedrill platform (not shown) provided for the derrick (not shown) commonlyused in cable drilling.

As can be appreciated from the above description and the drawings, adevice 10 according to the present invention may be economicallymanufactured and easily transported. Once in position about a string 16of an oil, gas, and the like well, either on land or water, it iseffective as a safety device for blowouts. If the well explodes, abutton (not shown) could be pushed starting fluid or other actuateddevices (not shown) for applying a force to lines 48 and drawing framemembers 12, 14 together. A suitable, known control system (not shown)could be used to actuate fluid motors 20 in proper sequence once framemembers 12, 14 are locked together. Jaws 18 would guidedly grip string16, and together with the locking devices in side rails 32, 34, assurethat I-beams 22 come together in a parallel manner for flattening aportion of string 16. In locations where pollution caused by a blowoutis not a serious threat to the environment, device 10 could be set upfor manual operation. The latter would result in even greater savingsover known blowout preventive devices.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device for shutting-off well drilling and pipe strings, comprising,in combination:

a. a pair of opposed, separate frame membeers arranged with a stringbetween them and displaceable toward and away from the string and oneanother;

b. means mounted on said frame members for selectively displacing saidframe members toward one another; and

c. means for relative movement with respect to the frame members forflattening a portion of the string to shut off same.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the frame members are eachformed by a pair of spaced, parallel side rails and an end railconnected to the side rails at one end portion of each, the other endportion of each side rail extending co-directionally and toward the siderails of the opposed frame member for mating therewith.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the other end portions ofthe side rails of one frame member are tapered toward the opposed siderails, and the other end portions of the side rails of the other framemember are provided with cavity means for receiving the tapered endportions.

4. A device for shutting-off well drilling and pipe strings, comprising,in combination:

a. a pair of opposed frame members arranged with a string between them,and displaceable with respect to one another, each of the frame membersformed by a pair of spaced, parallel side rails and an end railconnected to the side rails at one end portion of each, the other endportion of each side rail extending co-directionally and toward the siderails of the opposed frame member for mating therewith, the other endportions of the side rails of one frame member being tapered toward theopposed side rails, and the other end portions of the side rails of theother frame member being provided with cavity means for receiving thetapered end portions, a line being attached to at least one of saidtapered end portions anda pulley being arranged in an opening providedin the mating one of said other side rais, said line being arrangedaround said pulley for displacing said frame members toward one another;

b. means mounted on said frame members for guidingly engaging the stringwhen said frame members are displaced toward one another; and

c. means for relative movement with respect to the frame members forflattening a portion of the string to shut off same.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said frame members arefurther provided with means for locking themselves together afterdisplacement toward one another for preventing displacement of the framemembers away from one another.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein the locking means includesa latch member arranged in at least one of the tapered end portions, anda means arranged in the mating one of the other end portions of the siderails opposed to the tapered end portions for engaging with thelatchmember, said latch member engaging with the engaging means by theforce of gravity.

7. A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the relative movementmeans includes opposed fluid motors mounted on said frame members, andflattening means connected to the fluid motors for moving toward andaway from the flattening means of the opposed fluid motor.

8. A structure as defined in claim 7, wherein the fluid motors arecylinders and pistons having piston rods, and the flattening means isl-beams, each beam having a web attached to a free end of a respectivepiston rod.

9. A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the guidingly engagingmeans includes two opposed pairs of jaws mounted on the frame membersfor movement therewith, the two opposed pairs of jaws arranged spacedfrom opposite sides of the frame members.

10. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame members arefurther provided with means for locking themselves together afterdisplacement toward one another for preventing displacement of the framemembers away from one another.

11. A device for shutting-off well drilling and pipe strings,comprising, in combination:

a. a pair of opposed frame members arranged with a string between them,and displaceable with respect to one another, said frame members beingprovided with means for locking themselves together after displacementtoward one another for preventing displacement of the frame members awayfrom one another, the locking means including at least one latch memberarranged in one of said frame members, and a means arranged in the otherof said frame members for engaging with the latch mem- 6 ber;

b. means mounted on said frame members for guidingly engaging the stringwhen said frame members are displaced toward one another; and

0. means for relative movement with respect to the frame members forflattening a portion of the string to shut off same.

12. A structure as defined in claim 11 wherein the relative movementmeans includes opposed fluid motors mounted on said frame members, andflattening means connected to the fluid motors for moving toward andaway from the flattening means of the opposed fluid motor.

13. A structure as defined in claim 12, wherein the fluid motors arecylinders and pistons having piston rods, and the flattening means isl-beams, each beam having a web attached to a free end of a respectivepiston rod.

14. A structure as defined in claim 13, wherein the guidingly engagingmeans includes two opposed pairs of jaws mounted on the frame membersfor movement therewith, opposed pairs being arranged spaced fromopposite sides of the frame members.

15. A device for shutting-off well drilling and pipe strings,comprising, in combination:

a. a pair of opposed frame members arranged with a string between them,and displaceable with respect to one another;

b. means mounted on said frame members for guidingly engaging the stringwhen said frame members are displaced toward one another; and

0. means for relative movement with respect to the frame members forflattening a portion of the string to shut off same, the relativemovement means including opposed fluid motors mounted on said framemembers, and flattening means connected to the fluid motors for movingtoward and away from the flattening means of the opposed fluid motor.

16. A structure as defined in claim 15, wherein the fluid motors arecylinders and pistons having piston rods, and the flattening means isl-beams, each beam having a web attached to a free end of a respectivepiston rod.

17. A structure as defined in claim 15, wherein the guidingly engagingmeans includes two opposed pairs of jaws mounted on the frame membersfor movement therewith, opposed pairs being arranged spaced fromopposite sides of the frame members.

18. A structure as defined in claim 15, wherein the guidingly engagingmeans includes two opposed pairs of jaws mounted on the frame membersfor movement therewith.

19. A structure as defined in claim 18, wherein opposed pairs of jawsare arranged spaced from opposite sides of the frame members.

1. A device for shutting-off well drilling and pipe strings, comprising,in combination: a. a pair of opposed, separate frame membeers arrangedwith a string between them and displaceable toward and away from thestring and one another; b. means mounted on said frame members forselectively displacing said frame members toward one another; and c.means for relative movement with respect to the frame members forflattening a portion of the string to shut off same.
 2. A structure asdefined in claim 1, wherein the frame members are each formed by a pairof spaced, parallel side rails and an end rail connected to the siderails at one end portion of each, the other end portion of each siderail extending co-directionally and toward the side rails of the opposedframe member for mating therewith.
 3. A structure as defined in claim 2,wherein the other end portions of the side rails of one frame member aretapered toward the opposed side rails, and the other end portions of theside rails of the other frame member are provided with cavity means forreceiving the tapered end portions.
 4. A device for shutting-off welldrilling and pipe strings, comprising, in combination: a. a pair ofopposed frame members arranged with a string between them, anddisplaceable with respect to one another, each of the frame membersformed by a pair of spaced, parallel side rails and an end railconnected to the side rails at one end portion of each, the other endportion of each side rail extending co-directionally and toward the siderails of the opposed frame member for mating therewith, the other endportions of the side rails of one frame member being tapered toward theopposed side rails, and the other end portions of the side rails of theother frame member being provided with cavity means for receiving thetapered end portions, a line being attached to at least one of saidtapered end portions and a pulley being arranged in an opening providedin the mating one of said other side rais, said line being arrangedaround said pulley for displacing said frame members toward one another;b. means mounted on said frame members for guidingly engaging the stringwhen said frame members are displaced toward one another; and c. meansfor relative movement with respect to the frame members for flattening aportion of the string to shut off same.
 5. A structure as defined inclaim 4, wherein said frame members are further provided with means forlocking themselves together after displacement toward one another forpreventing displacement of the frame members away from one another.
 6. Astructure as defined in claim 5, wherein the locking means includes alatch member arranged in at least one of the tapered end portions, and ameans arranged in the mating one of the other end portions of the siderails opposed to the tapered end portions for engaging with the latchmember, said latch member engaging with the engaging means by the forceof gravity.
 7. A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the relativemovement means includes opposed fluid motors mounted on said framemembers, and flattening means connected to the fluid motors for movingtoward and away from the flattening means of the opposed fluid motor. 8.A structure as defined in claim 7, whErein the fluid motors arecylinders and pistons having piston rods, and the flattening means isI-beams, each beam having a web attached to a free end of a respectivepiston rod.
 9. A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the guidinglyengaging means includes two opposed pairs of jaws mounted on the framemembers for movement therewith, the two opposed pairs of jaws arrangedspaced from opposite sides of the frame members.
 10. A structure asdefined in claim 1, wherein said frame members are further provided withmeans for locking themselves together after displacement toward oneanother for preventing displacement of the frame members away from oneanother.
 11. A device for shutting-off well drilling and pipe strings,comprising, in combination: a. a pair of opposed frame members arrangedwith a string between them, and displaceable with respect to oneanother, said frame members being provided with means for lockingthemselves together after displacement toward one another for preventingdisplacement of the frame members away from one another, the lockingmeans including at least one latch member arranged in one of said framemembers, and a means arranged in the other of said frame members forengaging with the latch member; b. means mounted on said frame membersfor guidingly engaging the string when said frame members are displacedtoward one another; and c. means for relative movement with respect tothe frame members for flattening a portion of the string to shut offsame.
 12. A structure as defined in claim 11 wherein the relativemovement means includes opposed fluid motors mounted on said framemembers, and flattening means connected to the fluid motors for movingtoward and away from the flattening means of the opposed fluid motor.13. A structure as defined in claim 12, wherein the fluid motors arecylinders and pistons having piston rods, and the flattening means isI-beams, each beam having a web attached to a free end of a respectivepiston rod.
 14. A structure as defined in claim 13, wherein theguidingly engaging means includes two opposed pairs of jaws mounted onthe frame members for movement therewith, opposed pairs being arrangedspaced from opposite sides of the frame members.
 15. A device forshutting-off well drilling and pipe strings, comprising, in combination:a. a pair of opposed frame members arranged with a string between them,and displaceable with respect to one another; b. means mounted on saidframe members for guidingly engaging the string when said frame membersare displaced toward one another; and c. means for relative movementwith respect to the frame members for flattening a portion of the stringto shut off same, the relative movement means including opposed fluidmotors mounted on said frame members, and flattening means connected tothe fluid motors for moving toward and away from the flattening means ofthe opposed fluid motor.
 16. A structure as defined in claim 15, whereinthe fluid motors are cylinders and pistons having piston rods, and theflattening means is I-beams, each beam having a web attached to a freeend of a respective piston rod.
 17. A structure as defined in claim 15,wherein the guidingly engaging means includes two opposed pairs of jawsmounted on the frame members for movement therewith, opposed pairs beingarranged spaced from opposite sides of the frame members.
 18. Astructure as defined in claim 15, wherein the guidingly engaging meansincludes two opposed pairs of jaws mounted on the frame members formovement therewith.
 19. A structure as defined in claim 18, whereinopposed pairs of jaws are arranged spaced from opposite sides of theframe members.